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Be Alert for Pet Dry Eye and Be Sure Your Dog or Cat Drinks Enough Water

“Dry eye in humans is often environmentally related and has become the number one reason for United States eye doctor visits. Pets are subject to the same environmental conditions and are far more prone to eye injuries and diseases, including cat and dog dry eye. As a pet “parent,” monitoring your dog or cat’s eye health is critical. Eyes should always be kept moist and, of course, you must make sure your dog or cat eats properly and drinks enough water.”

Sharon Kleyne, syndicated radio talk show host*

The state of eye care in pets.

According to Animal Eye Care, which runs 39 ophthalmology clinics for pets, dogs and cats are subject to numerous eye diseases. The list on their website includes blepharitis, eye injuries, cataracts, conjunctivitis, corneal ulcers, eyelid masses and glaucoma.

Sharon Kleyne, entrepreneur, water and health advocate, and host of the Sharon Kleyne Hour -Power of Water syndicated radio talk show, points out that nearly all of these eye diseases are either the result of pet dry eye (a disease characterized by insufficient water content in the protective natural tear film covering the eye), or have pet dry eye as a side effect (Pet dry eye often results from diet and/or medication).

She reiterates what many veterinarians are discovering – that treatment of these diseases will be far more effective if you simultaneously treat for cat or dog dry eye.

Cat and dog dry eye.

Sharon Kleyne’s research has discovered that eye dehydration and dry eye disease among humans are more widespread than commonly reported (nearly every human suffers from occasional dry eye symptoms and it usually goes undiagnosed). “If dry eye is under-diagnosed among humans,” says Mrs. Kleyne, “the condition is almost unrecognized among professional pet care experts – despite the fact that the incidence of dry eye may be even greater among dogs and cats than among humans.”

“The good news,” according to Mrs. Kleyne, “is that there are many ways pet owners can be proactive in monitoring their pet’s eyes to keep them hydrated and healthy.

(Note: Because of the “third eyelid” membrane, a normal dog or cat eye is slightly better protected and better moisturized than a human eye. But because pets are exposed to far more high risk situations, their eyes are more subject to injuries and infections.)

Dry eye symptoms

Pet dry eye in is closely linked to conjunctivitis, red eye, blepharitis (eyelid inflammation) and corneal ulcers. Symptoms may include: (1) redness of the white part of the eye, (2) eyelid inflammation, (3) frequent eye infections and dripping, (4) lack of “shine” in the eyes or a noticeable thickening or unevenness of the tear film’s usually invisible lipid (oil) component, (5) indications of eye discomfort such as frequent squinting, blinking or pawing at the eyes, (6) unusual dryness of the fur and/or mouth.

Suggestions for pet eye care, including cat and dog dry eye.

Inspect your pet’s eyes frequently, watching for symptoms described above and for symptoms of other eye diseases.

See your veterinarian if your pet shown any symptoms of any eye disease, including dry eye.

For mostly indoor pets, make sure their home is well-humidified. Open windows, have lots of plants around, set out bowls of water or purchase a room humidifier.

Make sure your pet is well nourished and drinks enough water every day.

Apply Nature’s Tears EyeMist several times a day to maintain natural tear film water content and also to keep fur well hydrated. This routine can prevent or alleviate dry eye and help reduce dry eye as a side effect of other diseases.

Suggestions for pet watering.

Pets vary in the amount of water they like to drink and getting them to drink more can be a challenge. Do not assume that they will drink the exact right amount of water “by instinct.”

Pets should drink one cup of water per day for every 10 pounds of weight.

Follow the recommended diet for your pet’s species, age, weight, state of health and lifestyle.

Water sitting in a bowl all day can become contaminated and also lose oxygen and therefore taste.

Change water bowl frequently or purchase a pet watering device.

Don’t let pets drink from puddles or lakes.

Add water to your pet’s food.

Offer them water occasionally – especially after activity.

Pets require more water if they are ill.

*Don’t miss the Sharon Kleyne Hour – Power of Water Mondays at 10 a.m. PST/PDT. The syndicated show may be heard on Voice America/World Talk Radio, Green Talk Radio and Apple iTunes. Go to http://www.SharonKleyneHour.com for summaries and replays of past shows.

Eye Protection and Emergency First Aid

Note: According to the Merriam-Webster Medical Dictionary (1995), “to injure” is defined as, “to impair the soundness of.” Based on this extremely broad definition, the term “eye injury,” as used by eye care and emergency professionals, can refer to conditions ranging from the mildly uncomfortable (soap in the eye or squinting due to air pollution) to catastrophic trauma (eye penetration by a foreign object).

Eyesight Threats.

” In an emergency, eyesight threats may arise from smoke, heat, dust, fumes, airborne chemicals and particles, perspiration into the tear film, tear gas and pepper spray, mechanical injuries and impact trauma from flying objects. Injuries from of these threats may often be prevented or lessened through good eye safety practices.

” Eyesight threats may also be present in non-emergency situations. They could be caused by cleaning fluid fumes, auto exhaust, slicing onions, prolonged computer use, perspiration into the tear film, an eyelash in the eye, home shop accidents, and even insulated windows and walls and forced-air heating and cooling (which can be dehydrating to the eye’s protective tear film). These injuries may also be prevented or mitigated with good eye safety practices.

” Unprotected exposure to these eyesight threats could result in consequences ranging from mild eye discomfort to serious and permanent eye damage. Symptoms could include blurred or impaired vision, pain, dehydration (dry eye), eye strain; burning, itchy or watery eyes; eye diseases and serious physical injury (catastrophic trauma). Symptoms may be mild (sub-acute) or temporarily disorienting, or they could result in permanent eye damage and eyesight impairment or loss.

Eye Protection and First Aid.

Remember that in an emergency such as a burning building, impaired eyesight from dust, smoke, fumes or perspiration, could make it more difficult or impossible to get out and could cost you your life.

Healthy, well hydrated eyes will serve you far better in an emergency. It pays to educate yourself about eye care and practice good eye health on a daily basis.

Before engaging in an activity where eye injuries could occur, always:

Know what to do in an emergency.

Have a predetermined emergency first aid plan for eye and other injuries.

Follow good safety precautions and procedures.

Have emergency first aid materials available.

The best way to prevent eye injuries, especially from foreign objects and harmful substances, is to wear protective eyewear when in high risk situations. If you have corrective lenses, you are less likely to have an accident if you wear them.

Fumes, smoke, tear gas, pepper spray, airborne chemicals. These conditions can make it difficult or impossible to see in an emergency and may cause permanent damage. They can also create discomfort by altering the tear film’s pH (acidity/alkalinity), osmolarity (moisture attracting ability) and moisture content. Protective eyewear helps shield eyes from certain airborne irritants. Should discomfort become extreme, irrigate eyes with a sterile eye wash spray such as Bio Med Wash, other eye wash devices, or water from a plumbed eyewash station.

Chemical or thermal burns to eyes, eyelids or skin. Spray or irrigate eyes with copious amounts of water or liquid (Bio Med Wash spray, other eye wash devices or a plumbed eyewash station). Do not blot burned areas unless caused by a chemical, such as pepper spray or tear gas that will continue to burn unless removed. If injury is severe, bandage and seek immediate medical assistance. Keep burned areas moist by spraying with a water mist. (Note: Some chemical eye washes may compound the negative effect of harmful chemicals.)

Perspiration and sunburn. Solar exposure is dehydrating to both eyes and skin and could increase perspiration run-off into the eyes, thus increasing the tear film’s salt concentration and causing discomfort. Sunburn is extremely dehydrating to eyes, and to eyelid skin that protects the eyes. Drink plenty of water during extended solar exposure or during situations that make you perspire. Water with added salt is best (a Gatorade type drink). The amount of needed water increases with temperature and activity level, but eight glasses per day are recommended. Moisturize eyes and skin with a water eye and facial mist and by drinking plenty of water.

Foreign objects (catastrophic trauma). For small objects such as sand or metal filings, irrigate and flush the affected eye with copious amounts of water, from either an all-water eye spray, plumbed eyewash station or other eye wash system, until the object(s) is removed. If there is (or if you suspect) penetration, severe pain, profuse watering or corneal scratching, bandage the eye and seek medical attention. Do not try to wash out particles that have penetrated the corneal membrane.

Contact lenses. For most eye injuries, if there is a contact lens in the eye, leave it place while flushing, irrigating or bandaging. Remove the lens only when first aid treatment is completed and the eye begins to feel normal.

Eye strain, stress, fatigue and allergies can cause body, eyes and skin to lose moisture and cause eye discomfort. Moisturize the eyes with a water mist and by drinking plenty of water.

Low humidity, heat, cold and wind increase moisture evaporation from the body’s external surfaces (eyes, skin, breathing passages) causing skin chapping, eye discomfort, dry eye, etc. Low humidity may become an eye threat in both warm and cold weather. Moisturize the eyes with a water mist and by drinking plenty of water.

Still not a Single Glass of Water

“The health effects of dehydration in a changing environment are becoming pervasive. Dehydration diseases such as dry eye effects 50% of the population and are becoming a crisis. While I applaud the effort and intent of the national food chart, I am concerned that it does not recommend a single glass of water.”

Sharon Kleyne, syndicated radio talk show host*

On June 2, 2011, the United States Department of Agriculture published its newly revised nutritional “Food Pyramid” for 2011. The most noticeable difference from the old version is that it is no longer a pyramid (the Food Pyramid had been around since 1992). It is now called “My Plate” and it is essentially a pie chart (except that a dinner plate apparently works better for promoting a balanced diet that a pie).

Sharon Kleyne, founder of Bio-Logic Aqua Research and host of the Sharon Kleyne Hour – Power of Water syndicated radio talk show*, applauds the government’s attempt to improve our national eating habits. “In our society,” she says, “getting people to simply cut down on burgers, fried foods, donuts and soda pop, or to even be aware of what they eat, is a major accomplishment. People often don’t realize that what you eat affects who you are and every aspect of your life and health.

Mrs. Kleyne is concerned, however, that My Plate does not recommend water as part of a balanced diet. “Water is critical,” she explains. “Especially since an obese person’s body usually contains 30 to 40 percent less water per cubic inch than the body of a lean person. A diet with too little water can lead to poor health and numerous preventable dehydration diseases. Some dehydration diseases, such as dry eye, are rapidly becoming a global public health crisis.”

My Plate’s suggestions:

Although the My Plate chart tends to be fairly middle-of-the-road and basic, it is accompanied by a list of suggestions that, according to Sharon Kleyne, is basically sound:

Don’t overeat

Eat lots of fruits and vegetables.

Go easy on refined, bleached grains.

Avoid salt, sugar, grease and “empty calories.”

Sharon Kleyne’s additional suggestions:

Water: Water is the most fundamental of all nutrients and the basis for all life on Earth. Without water, food cannot be digested, processed or utilized.. The average American drinks far too little water and there is a major health impact as a result. Excess weight makes the problem much worse. Sharon Kleyne recommends drinking a minimum of six to eight glasses of room temperature water a day (This in addition to fluids such as juice, coffee, tea and soup. Sugar and carbonated drinks are dehydrating and not recommended).

Mrs. Kleyne offers a simple suggestion for My Plate: Place a glass of water on the diagram, alongside the recommended glass of milk.

Education: Learn all you can about nutrition and digestion/absorption (nutritious foods may not always be fully digested), and keep track of what goes into your body. Proper nutrition can save lives and also save billions of dollars (Fresh produce is the biggest bargain in the grocery store). .

Grains: My Plate’s Grain recommendation may be inflated, although it has dropped from 40% of the diet on the old Food Pyramid to 30% on My Plate. Most grain foods in the American diet contain empty calories and carbohydrates that should be eliminated or cut way back. On the other hand, grain foods that are not empty calories, such as wild rice, may be too nutritionally concentrated to be eaten in large quantities. The only grain foods that might reasonably constitute 30% of a diet are bran cereal and brown rice (although All-Bran, like wild rice and unlike bran flakes, is difficult to eat in large quantities).

Eat locally: Food is most beneficial when eaten in season and when grown near where you live. Sharon Kleyne applauds Walmart’s attempts to purchase fresh meat and produce locally whenever possible rather than importing them out of season from Mexico or Chile. This not only improves freshness and nutritional benefit, it saves on transportation costs.

*Don’t miss the Sharon Kleyne Hour – Power of Water Mondays at 10 a.m. PST/PDT. The syndicated show may be heard on Voice America/World Talk Radio, Green Talk Radio and Apple iTunes. Go to http://www.SharonKleyneHour.com for summaries and replays of past shows.

Sharon Kleyne Hour “Eye Care and Nutrition” links:

1. Food for the Eyes (Dr. Alan Taylor, Tufts University Laboratory for Nutrition and Vision Research – March 12, 2011):

Healthy Eyes in Children – What to watch for and what to do.

According to Sharon Kleyne, international entrepreneur and host of the Sharon Kleyne Hour – Power of Water Radio talk show, from the moment of birth, we begin losing water and drying out. All life everywhere is a constant struggle against dehydration. Because eyes (when open) are the only part of the human body not protected by skin, and because the protective tear film covering the eyes is 98 percent water, eyes are extremely vulnerable to water loss and a lot can go wrong – especially in infants.

Parents must learn to become more proactive about their children’s eye health and visual development. The time to begin is at birth!

Sharon Kleyne has interviewed numerous pediatric vision care (baby eye care) professionals about eye care for children and infants. Here are excerpts from two of those interviews.

Sharon Kleyne: What should a parent with a new baby look for regarding vision care?

Dr. McDonald: Actually, better hospitals routinely test infant vision. If there are no problems, they probably won’t even mention it. All babies should have a pediatric eye exam, however, because with conditions such as lazy eye, pediatric cataract (present in one birth in 50) or glaucoma, the earlier they are caught, the easier they are to correct. These conditions all cause the eye to send incorrect messages to the brain. Eventually, the brain begins ignoring messages from the bad eye. That’s when correction becomes really difficult.

S: Could you talk more about how the eyes communicate with the brain?

M: Technically, the retina is part of the brain. Eye-to-brain pathways begin developing immediately after birth and it is critical that the baby’s eyes send correct messages.

S: Do infants ever have dry eye symptoms?

M: Rarely. It is extremely difficult to detect. However, common pediatric medications for asthma and coughs are very dehydrating. In adults, of course, it is estimated that 40,000,000 people suffer from serious, chronic dry eye.

S: What do you recommend for school children with eye complaints?

M: Most schools have vision screening programs. They are able to detect poor vision because all you need is a simple eye chart. Diseases such as dry eye or glaucoma are much harder to detect.

S: Do you have any recommendations about vision and computers?

M: The average eyelid blink rate is 30 to 40 times per minute. When working at a computer, the rate can drop to three times per minute. This can cause dry eye even if your vision is perfect.

S: Have you encountered computer vision syndrome?

M: Frequently. Symptoms are drowsiness, eyes that burn or itch, and blurred vision. Fluctuating vision is also a symptom, where you strain and blink to pull your vision into focus.

S: Could you talk about nutrition and eye health?

M: Sure. Eat lots of dark green leafy vegetables and dark fruits such as blueberries. Also cold water fish and flaxseed oil. These are all excellent for eye health. As a bonus, they are also all rich in antioxidants for heart health.

At age three months, babies start to separate the senses. Before that, the senses all sort of blend together in their perception. To separate the senses, they all must function properly. Eyes more than anything connect the baby to the people and world around them. Eventually, eyes are able to anticipate the other senses (you can often tell by looking at something if its hard or soft, hot or cold) and this is critical to physical coordination and intelligence.

Emotional and behavioral problems could be caused in part by early vision problems. Vision problem can affect walking, hand-eye coordination and other developmental areas. Vision could also be a factor in attention deficit disorder. The link between vision and emotional development is not well established but there is some correlation in early findings.

A parent can easily evaluate a child’s vision by observing how it tracks objects and responds to visual stimulation. Factors causing amblyopia (lazy eye) are present from birth, even though the condition may not manifest until age three.

Computer and TV use should be minimal up to age three, then carefully monitored by parents. Children engaging in these activities tend to blink far less (three to four time a minute as opposed to 30 to 40 times a minute), which can lead to excessive tear film water evaporation and dry eye problems. Children (and adults) should take a break at least once very 15 minutes.

Don’t miss the Sharon Kleyne Hour – Power of Water Mondays at 10 a.m. PST/PDT. The syndicated show may be heard on Voice America/World Talk Radio, Green Talk Radio and Apple iTunes. Go to http://www.SharonKleyneHour.com for summaries and replays of past shows.

Nearly every computer user experiences dry eye discomfort that could lead to loss of productivity, loss of income, and eventually, loss of eyesight

Do you have computer vision syndrome?

If you answer “yes” to question #1 and at least two others, you may be experiencing computer vision syndrome.

Are you a “Computer Nerd” who uses a computer more than two hours a day?

Do your eyes sometimes burn or itch?

Are your eyes sometimes sensitive to light?

Does your vision ever become blurry?

Do your eyelids sometimes become heavy or tired during computer use, even though you’ve had plenty of sleep?

Do you get headaches from using the computer?

Do your shoulders sometimes feel tight while using the computer?

Do you have frequent eye allergies?

Other causes of computer vision syndrome:

In addition to computers, several common office conditions could result in computer eye strain, tear film dehydration and dry eye symptoms.

Forced-air heating and cooling.

Synthetic chemicals (plastics, paint, cleaning fluids, etc).

Insulated windows and walls.

Fluorescent lighting.

Stress.

Low indoor humidity.

Your diet.

Your eyes depend on the tear film.

The highly complex “tear film” covering the eyes consist of water, oil, electrolyte, antibodies, protein and mucus. The tear film moistens, lubricates, oxygenates and protects the eyes; and forms a light transmitting surface that enables you to see.

The tear film is 98% water. Every time you open your eyelids, you expose the tear film to evaporation and natural water loss.

Dry eye symptoms occur when too much water evaporates from the tear film without replacement (this process is highly complex, also involving tear glands and brain messaging).

Nature’s Tears EyeMist.

To supplement tear film water and minimize dry eye symptoms, mist your eyes frequently with Nature’s Tears EyeMist. With no dosage limit, all-natural Nature’s Tears EyeMist may be applied whenever computer dry eye symptoms are experienced. Always keep Nature’s Tears EyeMist beside your computer (and combine it with a complete daily hydration program that includes drinking 8-10 glasses of water a day).

Computer vision syndrome prevention tips:

An eye care professional may prescribe special “computer glasses.”

Keep a glass of water (And Nature’s Tears EyeMist) near your desk to help humidify the air.

Drink bottled water while you work…but pour it into a glass first. Total daily water intake should be at least 8 to 10 glasses.

Make a conscious effort to blink more often.

Several times per hour, look around the room at objects of varying distances.

Take scheduled breaks away from your desk (outdoors if possible).

To reduce glare, position your computer so windows are at the side of your computer rather than in the front or back. Adjust window blinds accordingly.

If possible, turn off fluorescent overhead lights and switch to a desk lamp.

Attach a glare-blocking hood or filter to your monitor.

Crack a window to let in humid air from the outside. Outdoor air is free of re-circulated bacteria and shed skin particles from co-workers, which enters via the heating/cooling system and can cause eye and skin dehydration.

Set the REFRESH RATE on your monitor as high as you can (over 85). Use a flat-screen if possible. A low refresh rate (60 or less), on a cathode ray monitor, can cause dry eye, eye strain and headache.

Take a shower every day that allow plenty of steam and water to penetrate your eyes, skin, breathing passages and lungs.

Every couple weeks, take a long, luxuriant hot body bath with a cup of Epsom salt dissolved in the bathtub water. This will detoxify, lubricate and humidify dry eyes and skin, improve skin flexibility and benefit all part of the body.

Tips for Truckers to Reduce Eye Fatigue and Protect Eyesight.

Trucker’s Eyes.

Bio-Logic Aqua Research and Nature’s Tears EyeMist have developed much new information on driving and eyesight. This information can help drivers prevent or relieve tired, strained, irritated “Trucker’s Eyes” on long distance trips (and they don’t involve coffee or eye drops). Even if you don’t follow the recommendations to the letter, you never know when the information might come in handy or prevent an accident.

Driving Dehydration

Much of the eyesight discomfort that drivers experience comes from dehydration (loss of water) of the eyes, skin (especially facial skin), and breathing passages. Alleviate the dryness and many eye and fatigue symptoms will quickly vanish!

Dry eyes and vehicles.

Several environmental factors in the truck cabin can lower air humidity and therefore increase in the rate of moisture (water) evaporation from the protective tear film covering the eyes. The tear film is amazingly complex, even though it is only about five microns (millionths of a meter) thick, and it doesn’t take much water evaporation to cause discomfort, fatigue and blurred vision.

Lack of adequate tear film moisture is called, “dry eye,” “dry eye disease,” “dry eye syndrome” or “trucker’s dry eye.” The most physically irritating result of tear film water loss is an over-concentration of electrolyte (salt). The results are itching and burning eyes, eye-strain, blurred vision, fatigue and other symptoms.

Soothing dry irritated eyes.

Soothing dry eyes is simple: Just add moisture to the tear film! However, accomplishing this can be difficult. Traditional formulated eye drops are difficult to apply, not always effective and you need to pull off the road to apply them. Also, the chemicals and preservatives in eye drops can cause an allergic reaction.

Because of the large drop size of eye drops (up to ten times the entire tear film volume), they can flood and wash away the natural tear film, including water, electrolytes and beneficial proteins and antibodies, replacing them with artificial chemicals while adding little or no water.

Nature’s Tears EyeMist.

The easiest way to prevent tear film water loss is to mist with Nature’s Tears EyeMist whenever discomfort is felt. This unique water mist penetrates the tear film with just the right amount of natural water – without flooding. And best of all, you can apply the mist while driving!

Even if you use eye drops, they will be more effective if you apply Nature’s Tears EyeMist first. Because Nature’s Tears EyeMist has no dosage limit, you may also mist between eye drop applications. Mist whenever eye discomfort is felt and or as a preventative before you feel discomfort.

Keep Nature’s Tears EyeMist in your glove compartment! A one-second “Just-a-Mist™” sweep across the face instantly replenishes tear film moisture – naturally, easily, and in just the right amount. ¨

And remember: Nature’s Tears EyeMist cannot be over-applied.

Other driving and eyesight tips.

Smoking while driving is especially unhealthy because of the confined space. In addition to damaging lungs and heart, cigarette smoke is extremely irritating to the eyes – even with a window opened.

Drink plenty of water while driving. Luke-warm water is less likely to make you go to the bathroom.

Sunglasses, obviously, help reduce road glare and protects the eyes from forced-air heating and cooling, which also dries the eyes.

Eat easily digested foods and foods with high water content.

Get as much sleep as you can. Try to keep as normal a sleep schedule as possible.

Place hot, wet compresses on your face (using a soapless washcloth) after sleeping, after showering, and whenever eyes feel tired of uncomfortable. Rinse and repeat several times. This will cleanse and moisturize the skin and eyes, and draw out toxins.

Keep Nature’s Tears EyeMist handy. Mist when you get up in the morning, after naps, after showering or cleansing, whenever eyes or face feel tired or uncomfortable, and three or four times a day as you drive as a preventative. Breathe the mist in deeply, following the Yoga technique of inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth.

Contact Lens Discomfort may be Caused by Dry Eye, and by Water Loss in the Eyes’ Tear Film

Contact lens dry eye.

As technologically miraculous as modern contact lenses are, too many people are still only able to wear them for short periods, while many others cannot tolerate them at all. A primary reason for contact lens discomfort is a condition called “contract lens dry eye.” Even for those who tolerate contact lenses reasonably well, the lenses often cause discomfort that can increase over time.

This is unfortunate because for 28 million people, contact lenses make the difference between seeing clearly in all directions or confinement to inconvenient and distorting eyeglasses. With the many contact lens choices available these days, they should provide an invaluable benefit to millions with poor eyesight.

The good news is that for those with low contact lens tolerance, or who suffer from contact lens dry eye, there are now ways to minimize the discomfort

The amazing tear film.

Contact lenses (both hard lenses and soft lenses) float on the surface of the delicate and complex tear film that covers the exposed parts of the eye, and rely on the tear film’s natural moisture (water) to maintain their pliability, integrity and adherence. Surface tension of the tear film’s moisture prevents the lenses from falling out.

The problem is that contact lenses deplete the tear film’s moisture content and interfere with healthy tear film functioning. Soft lenses, and gas permeable lenses, have been compared to “miniature sponges” because of the tear film water they soak up. Even rigid lenses deplete some tear film moisture. In addition, all lenses, even gas permeable lenses, reduce the amount of oxygen reaching the corneal surface. Rigid lenses restrict oxygen the most, which is why they are smaller.

Tear film function and structure.

The tear film covering the exposed eye surface is amazingly complex, considering that it is only about five microns (millionths of a meter) thick.

Tear film components:

Lipid layer. This topmost layer is comprised of a thin film of fatty oil that lubricates the eyelid and slows water evaporation from the lower layers.

Aqueous layer. The middle and thickest layer contains the vast majority of the tear film’s water. This is where most water evaporation occurs. The layer also contains electrolytes, proteins and bacteria-fighting antibodies. It provides oxygenated water that allows the cornea to breathe.

Mucin layer. This bottom layer glues the tear film to the optical surface.

Dry eyes and irritated eyes.

When tear film water is depleted, the resulting abnormal changes can make the eyes feel uncomfortable. The most physically irritating results of tear film water loss are an over-concentration of electrolyte (salt) and proteins in the aqueous layer. Insufficient oxygen in the aqueous layer can also cause discomfort. Discomfort can include itching, burning, irritation, eyestrain, headache, etc.

Soothing dry, irritated eyes.

Soothing contact lens dry eye, or dry eye from any other cause, is simple and logical: Add water to the tear film! In the past 110 years of medical eye research, this has proved an elusive objective.

Getting the moisture past the overlying lipid layer has been a challenge. As it turns out, our eyes already know how to accomplish this trick. In fact, the tear film can extract all the water it needs from the humidity in the air, provided the air is reasonably humid (70% at 70 degrees), and the humidity droplets are pure and unpolluted.

The standard solution to dry eyes has always been eye drops even though the typical eye drop is ten times larger than the volume of the entire tear film. When applied, eye drops can flood and wash away the natural tear film, including lipids and beneficial antibodies. Despite their complex chemistry, formulated eye drops lack one ingredient: all-natural, pH-balanced water.

Nature’s Tears EyeMist provides all-natural water to the aqueous layer through an ultra-pure, ultra-fine eye mist. In most cases, all that is required to restore the tear film’s water content is two to five nanoliters (billionths of a liter), which is far too little to apply with an eyedropper. The mist application also oxygenates the water, increasing the aqueous layer’s oxygen content.

For optimal results, apply Nature’s Tears EyeMist immediately before applying eye drops. Since Nature’s Tears EyeMist has no dosage limit, it may also be applied between eye drop applications, or when eye drops are not convenient.